Telephone-dial light



Feb. is, 1930.

A. S. HIGBIE TELEPHONE DIAL LIGHT Fild Dec. 8, 1927 I O 0 in! 24 INVENTOR B Y VALm/v J fi/ce/ A TTORNEY Patented Feb. 18, 1930 ALLAN S. HIGBIE, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY TELEPHONE-DIAL LIGHT Application filed December 8, 1927. Serial No. 238,612.

This invention relates to illuminating devices and in particular to one adapted for use in connection with a telephone instrument.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a means whereby the dial of an automatic telephone instrument may be illuminated for the convenience of the user the invention being particularly adaptable for booth telephones and others situated in poorly lighted places where it is necessary that the numbers on the call dial on the base of the telephone be read so that the latter can be manipulated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device which may be attached to any existing telephone instrument and in which is held a flat type, single cell flashlight so that the battery thereof may be renewed and the flashlight itself may be removed for battery replacement, when necessar X still further object of my invention is to provide a dial light which may be adjusted to a suitable part of the telephone instrument and which is provided with an extended clamp portion or clip in which is positioned a lead pencil or stylus for convenient use.

To enable others skilled in the art to fully comprehend the underlying features of my invention that they may embody the same in the various modifications in structure and relation contemplated, a drawing depicting a preferred form has been annexedas a part of this disclosure and in such drawing, similar reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of

which Figure 1 is a view in side elevatlon of a telephone instrument equipped with my improved dial light, the dial of the telephone being shown in the position that it occupies at the front of the instrument.

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of my improved flashlight holding member, the flashlight being omitted to show the construction of the holder.

Fi re 3 is a view in' top plan of the flashlight holder showing the clamping portion thereof andlmw the same is adapted to fit about the neck of the telephone mouthpiece, and

Figure 4 is a plan view of the flashlight holder before the same is bent into position for use.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 5 denotes the usual telephone instrument which is provided in this instance with an extended base 6 upon which is positioned, the call dial 7, which operates in the usual manner to connect the telephone with the part desired. The telephone further comprises t e mouthpiece 8 and mouthpiece holding neck 9 which is secured to the upper portion of the body member of the telephone 10 and on the latter of which is supported the receiver 11.

In the use of dial telephones, it has been found that when they are positioned in a dark or obscure corner or in a shadow that it is very diflicult to read the lettering on the dial which is positioned beneath the revolving member and in order to correct this condition, I have provided a flashlight which may be turned von momentarily while the dialing process is carried on and I have therefore provided a punched out metal holder 12 consisting of the central strip member 13 from the bottom of which extends the lower side arms 14 and the bottom arms 15, the latter being bent upwardly and having their ends disposed within the lower side arms 1 whereby the bottom is formed in the holder for the support of a flat type, dry

' cell flashlight 16. This flashlight, as is well known, is provided with an operating contact button 17 which, when manipulated, turns on the light and due to the inverted position of the flashlight in the holder illuminates the call dial 7 whereby the latter may be readily manipulated.

The center strip 13 is provided at substantially its mid portion with side arms 18 which act as retainers by passing around the edges of the flashlight 16 to hold the same in place in the holder, as do the arms 14. In order to suspend the holder body 12 from the neck piece 9 of the telephone, I have secured thereto as by the rivets 19, the clamp 20. This clamp is shaped in one of its extensions with a semi-circular neck engaging portion 21 and in its outer end, with a clip forming portion 22, the outer extreme thereof being flared as at 23 so that the clamp in conjunction with the extended portion 24 of the holder, not only acts as a means for clamping the light holder to the neck 9 of the mouthpiece but also acts as a retaining member for a pencil or stylus 25, which may be snapped into the end thereof.

It is of course understood that the portion 24 of the holder is shaped to conform to the clamp member and is. joined thereto by the screw 26 which, when removed, permits the holder extension 24 and clamp 20 to be passed over the neck 9 of the telephone mouthpiece and retained thereover through the medium of the nut 27 which engages the screw 26. In this position, the flare 23 and the mating flare in the portion 24 of the holder provide a means whereby the pencil comprising an upright member provided with means at its upper portion for attachment to a support, arms extending from the opposite sides of the member at an intermediate point in the height thereof and formed to embrace the sides of the illuminating member, arms extending laterally from the lower portion of said upright member and formed'to likewise embrace the sides of the illuminating member near the lower end thereof, and other arms extending forwardly from the second mentioned arms and having upturned ends engaging the portions of the second mentioned arms opposite their ends which form juncture with the upright member and constitute rests for the lower end of the illuminating member.

2. A holder for an illuminating member comprising a main strip portion, lower and upper side arms formed on said strip, botor stylus 25 may be snapped into position in tom arms extending from the lower side the pencil holding portion 22 very conveniently.

The end of the clamp member 20 extends downwardly as at 28 behind the strip portion 13 of the holder 12 so as to give added strength to the holder and rigidly maintain the flashlight in the proper position above the call dial 7.

It is quite evident, therefore, that I have provided a telephone dial illuminating member and means for holding the same in the proper position over the dial so that it will not interfere with the proper operation of the telephone and the eflicient use thereof by the person operating the same but will also be conveniently placed so that the flashlight thereon may be operated with one hand, preparatory to using the call dial.

It is also evident that I have provided a holder which is made from two pieces of metal and which may be enameled, painted or otherwise finished to match the body of the telephone and one which will not detract from the appearance thereof.

It is also evident that I have provided a combination flashlight and pencil holder which may be conveniently used in connection with the dial telephone and which may be placed thereon with a minimum of time and effort.

While I have illustrated and described my invention with some degree of particularity, I realize that in practice various alterations therein may be made. I therefore reserve the right and privilege of changing the form arms and having their ends disposed within the ends of said lower side arms, semi-circular clamped portions formed adjacent one end of said strip portion, and a reinforcing member having matching clamped portions formed therein secured to said main strip portion.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ALLAN S. HIGBIE. [L. s.]

of the details of construction or otherwise altering the arrangement of the correlated parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is I 1. A holder for an illuminating member 

